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Can I buy one of the EF 100mm Macro lens instead of EF 85mm f/1.8 USM?

Started Aug 13, 2015 | Polls thread
Rexgig0
Rexgig0 Veteran Member • Posts: 7,399
EF 100/2.8L Macro IS has quite sedate AF. 135L is faster.

My EF 100/2.8L Macro IS is one of the slowest-auto-focusing lenses I have ever used. This much more noticeable in low light, but is always a factor. I have never used any 85mm lens. My EF 135/2L auto-focuses much faster, and is my favored portrait lens, if I have enough distance to work with it.

I am not slamming the EF 100/2.8L Macro IS; it is one of my favorite lenses, and one of my most-used, being my work-horse lens at work for almost five years, paired with a good zoom lens on a second camera body. (Presently, that zoom is a 24-105L, which has much faster AF than the Macro L.)

Having said that, the EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS can be an indoor sports lens, if the sport moves slowly enough. I shot my nephew's swim meets for one year with this lens. Youth swimming is not the fastest-moving sport in the world, of course. Notably, however, I did my research, and bought my EF 135mm f/2L, in order to be better-prepared for the next season, though my nephew did not join the swim team again.

My understanding is that the EF 135mm f/2L does not AF as quickly as the true sports lenses, such as the various 70-200/2.8L options.

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I wear a badge and pistol, and make evidentiary images at night, which incorporates elements of portrait, macro, still life, landscape, architecture, and PJ. I enjoy using both Canons and Nikons.

 Rexgig0's gear list:Rexgig0's gear list
Canon EOS 7D Mark II Canon EF 135mm F2L USM Canon EF 400mm f/5.6L USM Canon EF 100mm F2.8L Macro IS USM Nikon AF-S Micro-Nikkor 60mm F2.8G ED +54 more
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